(Oakland, IA) — Class 2A was full of upsets in the Regional Finals on Monday night and none bigger than #11 Logan Magnolia knocking off #1 Riverside 3-2.
The Panthers go to the state tournament for the first time since 2022 when starting pitcher Campbell Chase was in 8th grade. Chase got into trouble in the bottom of the first when Sophia Fenner doubled to left and Adaline Martens followed with a RBI double to left center to give Riverside a 1-0 lead. After two straight pop ups, Sydney Somers popped one up on the infield but Chase could not make a play on it and with two outs, Martens came in to score to make it 2-0 Dogs.
After stranding 3 runners on base against Riverside starter Peyton Schafer in the first two innings, Lo Ma got the runs back in the top of the third. Gracyn Stone got a leadoff walk and Maria Kiger popped up a bunt — 3B Sydney Somers tried a diving catch but could not make the play and with two runners on, Chase bunted them to 2nd and 3rd. Maci Bertelsen hit a grounder to third — Stone broke home and Somers tried to get her but Stone slid under the tag to make it 2-1. After Whitney Hawkins grounded out, Abby Guritz bounded a single up the middle with 2 outs to score Kiger and the game was tied at 2-2.
The Panthers left the bases loaded in the 4th — Schafer got a 1-2-3 5th inning — but in the 6th, Logan Magnolia would finally get a break through. With one out, Kennedy Evans lined a single to left and moved to 2nd base on a wild pitch. Stone then drilled a ball to straight away center that went to the wall. Evans scored to make it 3-2 Panthers.
Chase, meanwhile, settled down after the first inning. She gave up a hit batter and a walk in the 2nd inning but got a fly out and strikeout. Lilli Reed got a leadoff double in the 4th but Chase struck out the next two hitters and after hitting Fenner, got Martens to pop out. Chase retired Riverside in order in the 5th and got two strikeouts in the 6th but walked Braelyn Schnack. Kaycie Perkins then fouled off some tough pitches before blooping one into shallow left for a base hit. With runners on the corners, Chase would get Fenner to pop out to end the inning.
Chase then retired the Bulldogs in order in the 7th to clinch the win and a trip to Fort Dodge. After losing twice in the regular season to Riverside, the third time was the charm for Lo Ma.
Logan Magnolia
Campbell Chase 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 2 Walks, 8 K, 2 HBP
Gracyn Stone 2-3, double, walk, SB, RBI, run
Kennedy Evans 1-2, walk, run
Maci Bertelsen 2-4, double, RBI
Riverside
Peyton Schafer 7 IP, 3 Runs, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 4 Walks, 7 K
Sophia Fenner 1-2, double, run
Adaline Martens 1-4, double, RBI, run
Line Score
Logan Magnolia (20-8) 3 Runs, 8 Hits, 1 Error, 11 LOB
Riverside (25-6) 2 Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Error, 8 LOB
W: Chase (20-6)
L: Schafer (24-5)
Time: 2:07
